The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-02-02
How Shall We Vote?

HOW Snall we VOCeI
Now that the prohibition amendment is to
be submitted to vote of the people, the
votes2 Shall we vote in favor of the measure
or shall our ballots D." cast against it2 No
more important question was ever submitted
To the decision of the voters of Michigan,
and there remain but n few weeks before it
must be decided. 1t is question in the
settlement of which every man, woman and
child in the state has vital interest, and in
which no mistake should be made.
BY the act of submission, the republican
party has done all that, by its platform, it
pledged itself to do, and republicans, from
partisan standpoint, are under no greater
obligations to support tho proposed amend
ment at the polls, than are democrats, fusion
lists prohbitionists. Thequestion is, in the
fullest sense of the word, political one but
1t is no longer partisan one and, indeed, ought
not TO be. Submission had to be secured
through some political party, and up to that
point it was partisan question; beyond
that it becomes "a question for the people,
regardless of party prediction or prejudice.
So grave matter as making radical change
in the fundamental law of the state, should
never be allowed to degenerate into mere
partisan measure. Ia voting upon this mat
ter, all men are free TO vote their convictions
without, in any manner, jeopardizing their
party standing. Indeed, Instead of the vote
being divided on party lines, it is much more
likely to be divided by geographical lines,
the heavy opposition vote coming from the
Upper Peninsula and the larger cities of the
Lower Peninsula, while the balance of the
state Ii likely To give heavy affirmative
vote.
But neither the friends nor the enemies of
the measure will have walk away" On
the side of tho former will be arrayed the
influence of the greater number of the moral
and christian people OF the state, while the
enemies of prohibition will have the advan-
tage of the money that will be poured out
freely by those who are amassing wealth III
the manufacture and sale of intoxicating
beverages. 1t is their occupation that is in
danger, their pockets that are liable to be
touched by hepeopes votes and, to save their
business FROM destruction, money will be
freely and lavishly used. Those who have
prophesied that the liquor men aud ultra
temperance men will be found working side
by side for the success of prohibition-the
former because they think prohibition means
"free whiskey" and the latter because of
their fanaticsm-will find themselves to
have been false prophets, and their predic-
tons unverified. 1t ia from neither of these
classes that the proposed amendment will
receive its principal support, but it is the
earnest, thoughtful, conservative voters of
the state who will be entitled To the credit if
prohibition shall be engrafted into our con-
believe the use Of intoxicating beverages to
be curse to mankind aud its manufacture
and sale a. beverage to be monstrous
evil.
1t becomes every voter in the state to ask
himself with which of these parties he will
stand in the approaching struggled Shall he
cast hisyote on the aide of Temperament in be-
half of morality, law aud order? in favor of the
home the family circle and the general hap
piness and welfare Of the community? or
shall he cast it with those who champion traf-
fic that has been the cause of untold misery?
that has filled prisons and poor houses2 that
destroyed families and broken human hearts
and ruined its armies of victims. both tenn
porary and eternally?
10 the NoRTHERNER, the answer TO the
question is obvious and, believing that the
total destruction of the traffic III all intoxi-
eating liquors IA beverage il consumma-
ton devoutly to be wished it will earnestly
a lvocate the adoption of the proposed pro-
hbitory amendment; aud this ID will do. not
because it is republican newspaper, but
because it believes the policy of prohibition
is right and il best calculated to secure the
happiness and we'll being of the people of
Michigan.
Renews Her Youth.
Mrs Phoebe Chesley Peterson CLAW Co